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Utah State University
DigitalCommons@USU
ENVS Faculty Publications
Environment and Society
5-2013
Rangeland Carbon Sequestration
Seth Cook
Zhao Ma
Roslynn Brain
Utah State University
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Recommended Citation
Cook, Seth; Ma, Zhao; and Brain, Roslynn, "Rangeland Carbon Sequestration" (2013). ENVS Faculty Publications. Paper 868.
http://digitalcommons.usu.edu/envs_facpub/868
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Rangeland Carbon Sequestration
Seth Cook, Zhao Ma & Roslynn Brain
Department of Environment & Society
What is Carbon Sequestration?
Terrestrial carbon sequestration is the process through which
carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere is absorbed by
trees, plants and crops through photosynthesis, and stored
as carbon in biomass (tree trunks, branches, grasses, foliage,
and roots) and soils1. Terrestrial carbon sequestration can
contribute to offsetting carbon dioxide emissions and
mitigating climate change.
Over 30% (770 million acres) of U.S. land cover is rangelands,
yet in Utah, roughly 80 percent of land cover is rangelands2.
Rangelands can be managed to increase soil carbon storage
through more equitable distribution of grazing pressure
over time and space to reduce forage plant defoliation and
increase carbon inputs from standing plants to soils3. The
overall ability of rangelands to sequester carbon depends
on plant species, soil type, regional climate, topography, and
management practice.
Even though the per acre carbon sequestration potential
of rangelands may be less than that of either forestlands
or croplands, the large size of rangelands in Utah and the
U.S. suggests a great overall carbon sequestration potential,
particularly in below-ground biomass and soils4,5. What does
this mean and what role can rangeland owners play in carbon
sequestration?
Carbon Sequestration:
The capture and long-term storage of carbon dioxide
(CO2) from the air.
Version: May 2013
Roughly 80 percent of Utah land is used as rangeland, which could play a
major role in offsetting carbon dioxide emissions.
Utah Rangeland Owners
A recent survey conducted by Utah State University (USU)6
asked rangeland owners questions about their views of carbon
sequestration and climate change. The survey had a response
rate of 71%. The survey participants included 598 farmers and
ranchers who owned private grazing land and livestock across
29 counties in Utah. The average age of these respondents were
61 years. On average, respondents owned 458 acres of private
grazing land. Eighteen percent of respondents had a public
grazing permit and 11% had a written grazing management plan.
With respect to views of carbon sequestration and climate
change, over two-thirds of respondents reported they had at
least heard of carbon sequestration prior to the survey. Three
quarters had a positive view of carbon sequestration based on
their previous understanding and the definition provided in the
survey. Sixty-four percent of respondents thought the climate
had been changing over the past 30 years. Those who believed
in climate change, particularly the human influence on climate
change, were more likely to have a positive view of carbon
sequestration. Although carbon sequestration may be best known
for its connection to climate change, there are numerous other
benefits. The graph on page two demonstrates perceptions of
Utah rangeland landowners regarding these potential benefits.
sustainability/2013/13pr
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The level of importance Utah rangeland owner respondents placed on the potential benefits of participating in a carbon sequestration program.
Benefits of Carbon
Sequestration
Ecological Benefits
Rangelands play an important role in the carbon
cycle. Although their ability to absorb CO2 from the
atmosphere could help offset human influence on
climate change, there are many other ecological benefits
associated with sequestering carbon on rangelands4.
Range management practices that lead to increased
carbon storage in the soil contribute to better soil quality.
Higher levels of soil organic matter and healthier root
systems allow for better water infiltration into the soil
and higher water holding capacity. These factors all result
in better plant productivity and higher quality forage,
which make rangelands less susceptible to drought
conditions and allow them to better sustain livestock and
wildlife grazing during dry periods.
All of these ecological benefits together contribute to the
overall health of the land, which may lead to improved
economic efficiency of ranching operations8.
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Financial Benefits
Farmers and ranchers may be able to receive financial
benefits as a result of sequestering carbon on their
land. Carbon markets have been explored in the U.S.
for trading carbon offset credits. From 2003 to 2010,
the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) operated a
carbon reduction and trading system comprised of large
companies, municipalities, and institutions connecting
emitters of CO2 and other greenhouse gases with carbon
offset projects (e.g., carbon sequestration on rangelands)9.
Farmers and ranchers could sequester carbon through
improved land management practices, and the difference
between the base rate of carbon storage and the rate
under a new management practice could be sold as
carbon credits.
Some rangeland owners have profited from carbon
markets in the past and may be able to profit from similar
opportunities in the future7. In addition, government
programs may be developed to provide cost share, tax
incentives, or direct payments to farmers and ranchers
who are willing to implement carbon sequestration
activities on their land in a manner similar to existing
land management and conservation programs.
benefits either directly or indirectly. Participating in these
existing programs is also a good way to receive technical
and/or financial assistance.
Federal programs, run by the Natural Resource Conservation
Service (NRCS) and the Farm Service Agency (FSA), include:
• Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
• Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
• Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
Grazing cattle on Jim Thorpe’s ranch near Newkirk, New Mexico. Jim
Thorpe was one of the first ranchers in the West to take advantage
of the carbon-ranching market, having received compensation for
sustainable practices including managing the number of cows on the
land and rotating them frequently through pastures.
Steps to Sequester Carbon on
Your Land
Management Practices:
Livestock grazing is a major use of rangelands in the U.S.
When done right, grazing can help the root systems of grasses
and shrubs increase carbon storage in soils. In particular,
management practices that minimize disturbance to soils
in established pastures, introduce drought-tolerant forage,
or increase forage production through more equitable
distribution of grazing pressure over time and space, will
increase soil organic matter and carbon storage8.
Soil conservation is the most important aspect of carbon
sequestration. On rangelands, grazing and vegetation
management are very important for soil conservation. Some
general management goals or practices that have carbon
benefits are:
State programs in Utah, run by the Utah Department of
Agriculture and Food (UDAF) and the Utah Conservation
Commission, include:
• Utah Grazing Improvement Program (UGIP)
• Agriculture Resource Development Loans (ARDL)
Agricultural Organizations:
Another way to get involved in carbon sequestration is to talk
to the agricultural organizations in your area, such as the Utah
Farm Bureau or the Utah Cattlemen’s Association. These
organizations have extensive knowledge and experience
working with farmers, ranchers, and various government
agencies promoting rangeland conservation.
The majority of rangeland owners in the USU survey
indicated preference for working with private agricultural
organizations on carbon sequestration. Partnerships
between such organizations and government agencies
are important for developing future carbon sequestration
programs that would be appealing to rangeland owners.
Letting these organizaions know you are interested in
carbon sequestration may help mobilize them to influence
future policy development to benefit you and other Utah
landowners.
• Maintaining light-to-moderate stocking rates.
• Using proper grazing management techniques and avoiding
overgrazing.
• Sowing drought-tolerant legumes and grass species.
• Restoring degraded rangeland.
Government Conservation Programs:
Several rangeland conservation programs at the federal and
state levels can help landowners implement improved grazing
and vegetation management practices that may have carbon
The Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) is one of many
species that would benefit from the improved overall health of grazing
land as a result of carbon sequestration management practices.
3
Sources
1. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Accessed
on September 9, 2012, from: http://www.epa.gov/
sequestration/faq.html
6. Cook, S., (2012). Carbon sequestration on Utah rangelands:
A landowner perspective. Master of Science thesis, Utah
State University, Logan, UT.
2. Utah State Univeristy Cooperative Extension.
(2012). Introduction to rangelands. Available from:
http://extension.usu.edu/rangelands/htm/introrangelands#What
7. Gosnell, H., Robinson-Maness, N., & Charnley, S. (2011).
Profiting from the sale of carbon offsets: A case study of
the Trigg Ranch. Rangelands, 33(5), 25-29. Available from:
http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/journals/pnw_2011_
gosnell003.pdf
3. Carbon storage in rangelands: Ranching sustainability
analysis info sheet. Available from: http://cesanluisobispo.
ucdavis.edu/files/136179.pdf
4. Derner, J.D., Schuman, G.E. (2007). Carbon sequestration
and rangelands: A synthesis of land management and
precipitation effects. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation,
62(2), 77-85. Available from: http://ars.usda.gov/
SP2UserFiles/Place/54090000/DernerPDF/32.
JSWC62(2)Derner.pdf
8. Ma, Z., Coppock, D.L. (2012). Perceptions of Utah
ranchers toward carbon sequestration: Policy implications
for US rangelands. Journal of Environmental Management,
111, 78-86.
9. McComb, S. (2009). Overview of CCX®: Chicago Climate
Exchange. Available from: http://www.epa.gov/agstar/
documents/workshop09/mccomb.pdf
5. Ritten, J.P., Bastian, C.T., Rashford, B.S., Norton, J.,
Norton, U., Paisley, S.I., Burgener, P. (2009). Can carbon
find a home on the range? Western Economics Forum,
8(2), 14-20.
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